Method and device for inserting inserts (cores) into female molds of a rotary tableting press

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for inserting inserts (cores) into female molds of a rotary tableting press. The inserts are inserted individually into one female mold each of a rotating rotor of the rotary tableting press by separating the inserts from a nonspecific quantity by means of a feeder mechanism, feeding them to a core distributor and aligning them from there with the female molds in a precisely defined position and delivering the inserts to the female molds in this position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for inserting single-feed inserts into female molds in a rotary tableting press, comprising:
 a core feeder mechanism comprising a rotary conveyor comprising positioning pockets, wherein the pockets are configured to self-position the inserts, 
 a core distributor having a drivable rotor comprising over its circumference at least one core receptacle configured to intersect with the female molds of the rotary tableting press-in a partial-circle, wherein the at least one core receptacle comprises:
 a restrainer comprising gripper elements with gripper tongs configured to receive the inserts from the pockets in a receiving area of the pair of gripper tongs situated below the pockets, wherein the gripper tongs are further configured to insert, center and convey the inserts, and 
 at least one plunger attached to the core distributor situated above a receiving area of a pair of gripper tongs, 
 
 wherein the gripper tongs and the plunger are pneumatically controlled by a control cam, and 
 wherein the gripper elements are operated via pneumatic control valves which are arranged in the core distributor and are controllable by the control cam to eject the core downward out of the pair of said gripper tongs via said plunger. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control cam is a stationary control cam. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein four valves are assigned to each gripper element configured to open or close the gripper tongs and configured to receive and eject the inserts. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controllable drive operatively connected to the rotor of the core distributor. 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the controllable drive is part of a stepping motor. 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a core separator wherein the core feeder mechanism, the core separator and the core distributor forms a feeder chain for the inserts. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the positioning pockets are elongated, comprise a positioning stop and are formed by the rotary conveyor and a guide surface positioned underneath the rotary conveyor. 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the guide surface is interrupted at the core distributor. 
     
     
       9. A device for inserting single-feed inserts into female molds in a rotary tableting press, comprising:
 a core feeder mechanism comprising a rotary conveyor comprising positioning pockets, wherein said position pocket are elongated, comprise a positioning stop and are formed by the rotary conveyor and a guide surface positioned underneath the rotary conveyor and are configured to self-position the inserts at the positioning stop, 
 a core distributor having a drivable rotor comprising over its circumference at least one core receptacle configured to intersect with the female molds of the rotary tableting press in a partial-circle, wherein the at least one core receptacle comprises:
 a restrainer comprising gripper elements with gripper tongs configured to receive, insert, center and convey the inserts, and 
 at least one plunger attached to the core distributor situated above the receiving area of the pair of gripper tongs, 
 wherein the gripper tongs and plunger are pneumatically controlled by a control cam, and 
 wherein the gripper elements are operated via pneumatic control valves which are arranged in the core distributor and are controllable by the control cam to eject the core downward out of the pair of said gripper tongs via said plunger. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the guide surface comprises an interruption at the core distributor. 
     
     
       11. The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the interruption is located above the gripper tongs.